MANSFIELD - As students in high schools across the country prepare for National School Walk-Out Day Wednesday, officials at Mansfield Senior High School are taking a different approach.

The 17-minute walk-out, planned for 10 a.m. Wednesday, is intended to both honor the victims of the Feb. 14 shootings at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, and push for stricter gun control laws.

To emphasize unity, acting Mansfield Senior High School Principal Scott Musser distributed T-shirts during lunch Tuesday to all students who agreed to remain inside the school Wednesday morning. The message on the front of the shirt reads, "Hear Something? See Something? SAY SOMETHING! Making Mansfield Senior High safe for all."

“I believe we are a stronger community together by remaining inside, sharing ideas and speaking out against violence,” Musser said. “If we stand together, there won’t be any need to walk out.

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Eleventh graders Hailey Jacobs and Megan Supron try to keep up Tuesday morning with the demand for t-shirts. Mansfield Senior High School students recieved a free T-shirts during lunch today for agreeing to remain inside the school Wednesday morning and not participate in the National School Walk-Out Day.(Photo: Jason J. Molyet/News Journal)

“This is the kids’ school. Everyone needs to speak up if they see or hear something that could be a threat.

“I believe most, if not all, of our students will agree to remain inside to discuss how to prevent violence. But if a student wants to walk out at 10 o’clock on Wednesday, he or she will be permitted to stand near the flag pole in front of the school for the 17 minutes.”

Musser said security personnel will be stationed at the main entrance and at the rear entrance near the student parking lot. Any student who might attempt to walk out of the rear entrance will be directed to the front.

"We have great kids here at Senior High,” Musser said. “I have confidence in them. We all want to prevent violence in our schools. I believe the best way to do that is by staying stronger together in our community.”

Wednesday’s walkout is part of a movement spurred by survivors of the Parkland, Fla., shooting with support from the Women’s March Youth EMPOWER.

Tuesday, as students stood in line for their free, orange T-shirts, most seemed happy about wearing them on Wednesday, which also will be a dress down day, where students can wear jeans instead of the school uniform.

Trae Farmer, 17, a junior at Senior High, said he believes in the message on the T-shirts.

"I think these things say if we're gonna see you and we're gonna hear you, you know you're going to get snitched on," Farmer said. "If you mess with this school, you are going to get caught."

Farmer said that's a good thing.

"Half of this school is full of athletes and if someone is going to do something, they are going to get tackled," he said.

Farmer said the whole situation — including the string of threats that have plagued schools here — is annoying and wrong. "It's getting in the way of learning."

Kyleigh Peltier, 15, said she believes a walk-out is a good idea, but not during class.

"Because you need your education," she said from the commons area at lunch time.

As for school violence?

"I wish people wouldn't do it and just use common sense," Peltier said.

Makayelynn Justice, 15, a sophomore, said she is looking forward to wearing her new T-shirt on Wednesday.

"This says stop the violence," she said. "Wednesday, we can wear them in support for the kids who were killed or injured."

Nearby, Storm Howard, 16, said he likes the idea of the T-shirts to support non-violence.

"It is bad when you have to worry about whether or not kids are coming home from school," he said.

Justice Kelly, 17, had just stood in line to get his T-shirt. "It's cool," he said, heading to the lunch line.

The T-shirts provided to Senior High students were paid for by Richland Bank, Mechanics Bank, the Mansfield Association of Realtors and Gionino’s Pizzeria.

Elsewhere, students at St. Peter's Schools will have a prayer vigil at 10 a.m. Wednesday in the church parking lot, weather permitting, or inside the Robert Frye Gym if the weather is bad.

Students and teachers will hold hands or lock arms. Those representing the 17 victims of Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting will form a smaller circle inside the larger; each holding an orange balloon. Prayers will be read and background information given on the purpose of the prayer vigil, according to the school.

The names of the 17 students/faculty killed in the MS Douglas shooting will be read aloud. At the same time, when each name is announced, the person in the inner circle representing the victim, will release their balloon and then proceed to join the larger circle. A moment of silence will be observed and a poem read remembering those lost.

Coach Roy Shoulders will read a prayer at the close of the ceremony and the school community will return to class, according to St. Peter's